DIVERSITY & MULTICULTURALISM in USA Libraries

1. DIVERSITY & MULTICULTURALISM in USA Libraries Sandra Rios Balderrama Nov. 9, 2006

2. WELCOME! • Bienvenidos! • Aap sab ka Swagat hai (Hindi from Parul) • Boozhoo - Anishinabe,Ojibwe/Chippewa from Dr. Loriene Roy) • Ahlan wa sahlan – (Arabic w/ Lebanese dialect from Ghada) Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

3. Ojo! How we see the world • Cultural bias • Cultural lens • Cultural perspective • Cultural conditioning • Cultural values Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

4. Sandra’s cultural biases • Librarian • Diversity & multiculturalism advocate, consultant, student • Bicultural, tri-cultural Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

5. Homenaje/Homage • To my Auntie Chong Sun “Jeannie” Balderrama • You taught me that the world was much larger than my own • Thank you!/Komapsumnida! Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

6. Cultural Characteristic - Context • High: how you say something is more important than what you say; setting the tone/”ambiente” • Low: what you say (content) is more important; get to the point directly and quickly Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

7. USA – Context and Tension • E Pluribus Unum (from one, many) • We value unity & pluralism • We value nationalism & value autonomy. • We value equity and see inequity. • We value meritocracy and see privilege. Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

8. Diversity strategies– as a result • Eliminating inequity • Going beyond race, culture & ethnicity • Creating inclusion & participation • Creating mirrors and windows (Dr. Alma Flor Ada) Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

9. Diversity: Strategy, Outcome, Value • Strategy - create access, participation, inclusion • Outcome – diverse workforce and library services • Value – operating principle of the library organization. Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

10. Professional Values • Equity of Access (Equidad y Acceso) • Diversity • Intellectual Freedom Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

11. Multiculturalism – Closely related to Diversity • IFLA definition (handout) • Rod Janzen’s 5 paradigms (handout) Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

12. Tension re: Multiculturalism • Group vs. National Identity • Individuality vs. Nationality • Autonomy vs. Collectivity • Assimilation vs. Acculturation • Both/and ? Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

13. Questions • How “American” are you? • Do unity and equity = “sameness”? • Sharing a common humanity but different cultural values? • What is the role of cultural competence? Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

14. Strategies • Recruitment to profession & workforce • Retention • Cultural change – attitudes & behaviors, in library organization, in service delivery Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

15. Where • The Profession • The Workforce • Management, Admin, & Leadership • “Friends”, Boards, Trustees, Advisors • Policies, protocols, processes • Services, evaluation Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

16. How • Beyond “customer service” • Increase cultural competence – awareness, knowledge, experience • Increase cross-cultural communication skills • See the person you work with & that that you serve - as someone you can learn from Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

17. What is needed • Systemic (holistic, organic, integral) planning & implementation • Partnerships • Timeframes, allocated resources, & accountability • Earned Leadership Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

18. What is needed • Ability to see “potential” in ideas and in people • Courage to evaluate and re-evaluate and change • Multicultural, diverse and culturally competent staff • Leaders interested in global vision Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

19. Specific Strategies Used • Scholarships, residencies, internships • Mentoring • Culturally relevant programming/collection • “Ambiente” • Training, Professional & Leadership development Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

20. Making a difference? • Outputs and Outcomes • Qualitative and quantitative data • Have we made a difference? • “Right thing to do” • Static vs. dynamic profession/library services Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

21. Cultural Competency • Definition and role • Beyond bilingualism and biculturalism • Beyond customer service, “good” reference, traditional hiring practices • Ghada Elturk (Kanafani) article Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

22. Cross-cultural Communication Reference/information desk Meetings – formal & informal Presentations Partnerships and joint ventures Recruiting, hiring, training Programming Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

23. How to begin • Self assessment • Identify bias, prejudice, stereotype, misappropriations • Practice, Reflection, Practice, Reflection, • Move toward knowledge • Move toward experience Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

24. El conejo en la luna • The rabbit on the moon • In some way natural - our differences • When you tire - may the global drum that is your heartbeat be your touching stone. • Thank you – from my ancestors to yours. Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006

25. Stay in touch • Sandra Rios Balderrama • Rios Balderrama Consulting • PO BOX 26653 • Scottsdale, AZ 85255-0127 USA consult@riosbalderrama.com Thinking Outside The Borders, 2006